Sr. Principal Scientist to Associate Director, Translational Modeling & Simulation

Job Description Summary

#LI-Hybrid

About the role:

Novartis is a leader in the cardiovascular/renal and neuroscience disease areas with a robust pipeline of projects. We are seeking a translational modeler eager to accelerate projects with emerging and traditional modalities, including siRNA therapeutics (“xRNA”), antibodies and antibody conjugates, and small molecules. You will work in a multi-disciplinary environment with early discovery teams to inform lead optimization strategy and preclinical teams to drive compounds from candidate selection to first-in-human. As part of a truly translational modeling team, you will also collaborate with clinical pharmacology and pharmacometrics groups to leverage quantitative systems pharmacology (QSP) approaches to inform clinical decisions spanning early dose optimization to life-cycle management.

This role reports to a PK Sciences Translational M&S team lead, in a group situated within Biomedical Research, the research engine of Novartis.

 

Job Description

Key Responsibilities:

•    Act as the Translational M&S representative on several programs. Develop and execute modeling strategies, contribute to project team discussions, and guide decisions from therapeutic design to first-in-human dose selection and beyond. 
•    Build and apply PK/PD, QSP, and physiologically-based PK (PBPK) models that link drug pharmacology, tissue biodistribution, mechanism(s) of action, and biological outcomes. 
•    Collaboratively develop platform models and modeling workflows that extend across multiple projects and phases of discovery & development. 
•    Proactively seek opportunities to increase the impact and awareness of translational modeling through communications with internal and external audiences.
•    Engage in strategic initiatives within M&S, such as coordinating modeling activities for a disease area or therapeutic modality or leading the development of a new platform. Contribute as a scientific area expert across PK Sciences and Biomedical Research.  

Essential requirements:

•    Education: Ph.D. in biology, bioengineering, pharmaceutical sciences, biophysics, or a related field. Master’s degree with 8+ years of industry experience and demonstrated impact (e.g., publications) will be considered. 

•    General Modeling Skills: Expert level proficiency in core modeling fundamentals is required, including scripting languages (e.g., MATLAB, R), construction of ordinary differential equation (ODE) models, parameter estimation, data visualization, and foundational data science concepts. 

•  Industry Modeling Skills: Proficiency in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics (PK/PD), quantitative systems pharmacology (QSP), and/or physiologically based PK (PBPK) is required. 

•  Domain Expertise: Prior experience with the integration of computational modeling and biological concepts is required.

•  Collaboration and Communication: Demonstrated ability to communicate modeling results to a multidisciplinary audience for collaborative work and/or to facilitate strategy and decision-making. Fluent in English (oral and written).

•  Candidates with demonstrated impact as a modeler, preferably in the pharmaceutical/biotech industry, and with commensurate experience and proficiency may be considered for the Senior Principal Scientist (5+ years experience) or Associate Director (7+ years experience) role.

Desirable Requirements:

• Experience modeling in cardiovascular, renal, and/or neuroscience disease areas is preferred

• Experience with RNA therapeutics (siRNA, ASO), antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), and/or low molecular weight compounds is strongly preferred.

This is a dual level posting. The final level and title of the offer role would be determined by the hiring team based on the skills, experience & capabilities required to perform the role at the level the role has been offered.

#ModelingAndSimulation #PKSciences

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion / EEO: The Novartis Group of Companies are Equal Opportunity Employers and take pride in maintaining a diverse environment. We do not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion or other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status. We are committed to building diverse teams, representative of the patients and communities we serve, and we strive to create an inclusive workplace that cultivates bold innovation through collaboration and empowers our people to unleash thei